November 7, 2006

 
LIVINGSTON, Ala.--Denys Lupshenyauk, an Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellow studying at The University of West Alabama, has received one of only nine grants given to graduate students in postsecondary education in the Southern region to attend the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges annual meeting. Lupshenyauk will attend the SACS meeting in December in Orlando, learning about accreditation practices in the United States. He is one of two Alabama students to receive the grant.

Denys Lupshenyuk

Lupshenyauk, a Ukrainian scholar, is in his second year at UWA working toward his master's degree in continuing education. He is one of only 179 Muskie fellowship recipients from over 5,000 Eurasian applicants last year.

He earned three degrees in Ukraine, including a specialist degree, which is equivalent to an American master’s degree, in Russian, English, world literature and education. At UWA, he hopes to learn more about the American education system and take that knowledge back to his university in Ukraine.

The Muskie program provides graduate students and professionals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan the opportunity to study in eleven academic fields. Lupshenyauk sees his stay at UWA as a chance to learn classroom and cultural lessons.

The Muskie program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and administered by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). Fellowship recipients, chosen based on several criteria including leadership potential, work experience, academic excellence and English proficiency, receive complete financial support from IREX.